Portable electrically-heated steaming iron



April 21), 1929. TOHNKA T A 1,710,037

PORTABLE ELECTRICALLY HEATED S TEAMING IRON Filed April 18, 192? 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 23, 1929. J. F. TOPINKA ET AL 1,710,037

PORTABLE ELECTRICALLY HEATED STEAMING IXON Filed April 18. 192 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 23, 1929. F T PHQKA ET AL 1,710,032

PORTABLE ELECTRICALLY HEATED STEAMING IRON Filed April 18, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,710,037 PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH FR. TO-PIN'KA AND FRANK B. JEDLICKA, OF CLEVELAND, OH IO.

PORTABLE ELECTRICALLY-HEATED STEAMING IRON.

Application filed April 18, 1927. Serial No. 184,594.

This invention relates to electrically heated portable steaming irons, which may also be converted into electrically heated portable steaming flat irons.

An object of the invention is to make a small, portable, self-contained steaming iron, which will quickly generate suilicient dry steam for use in steaming and pressing clothes, wash goods, furs, etc., and particularly for'use with heavier garments, parts of which cannot be conveniently steamed and pressed by other means I A further object is to provide an iron which may be used for dry steaming and pressing, or as a flat iron.

A further object is to provide a detachable flat iron element.

A further object is to provide a small portable steaming iron which will hold suilicient water to supply steam for a reasonable quantity of work, and that is self-contained, and need not be connected to a large steam supply boiler, etc.

Other objects will appear upon reading the specification.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side View in elevation of the combined steaming and flat iron;

Figure 2 is a partial side View, in elevation, of the combined steaming iron and guard;

Figure 3 is a view, in perspective, of a detachable guard, shown attached in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sec tion of the steaming iron, with the guard attached Figure 5 is an end view, in elevation, of the steaming iron, with the shell of the electric plug holder removed;

Figure 6 is a central transverse section on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, without the guard;

Figure 7 is a front end View, in elevation, of the steaming iron and guard;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the detachable fiat iron;

Figure 9 1s a VGltlCtll lOnglillltllllttl section on the line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a rear end view, in elevation, of the detachable iron shown in Fig. ure 9, and showing the cylinder casin g of the steaming iron in dotted outline;

Figiire 11 is a view in perspective of the electric heating unit for the steaming iron;

Figure 12 is a View, in perspective, on

ure 13;

Figure 15 is a view, on a reduced scale, in perspective, of the conduit and sleeve which connects with the water reservoir shown in Figure 12; and

Figure 16 is a vertical longitudinal sectional vlew on a reduced scale, of the chambered casing shown in Figure 13.

The combined steaming iron and flat iron shown in Figure 1, has a cylindrical shell or casing 1, a handle 2, in which is a toggle switch 3, a,casing 4 to receive an electric attachment plug 5, a supply conduit 6 to admit water to the water reservoir, 10, see Figure 12, and a flat iron 7. I11 Figure 2 is shown the cylinder 1 with a guard 8 replacing the electric flat iron; the guard is shown in Figure 3.

In Figure 4, the water conduit 6 is open at the end 9, to receive a hose to conduct water from a faucet, etc., to the reservoir 10, the latter shown on a reduced scale Figure 12, the reservoir having a suitab e inlet 11, fitting in the extension tube 12 of casing 1, Figure 15, the opening to the inlet 11 being closed by the screw threaded plug 13, Figure e1, the conduit 6 being secured to the tube 12 and registering with an opening 14 in the inlet 11. The reservoir 10 is provided with a safety valve 15, to allow any excess steam pressure to escape. As shown in Figure 12, the water in the reservoir 10 flows through pipes 16 into the outlet-pipe 17, the latter provided with numerous holes 18, Figure 4, through which the-Water passes to the distributing or filtering envelope 19, which in use becomes saturated with water to be converted into steam and serve as a steam-emission surface, and which may be made of asbestos or similar heat resisting porous material, and which retards or prevents the passage of water when cold, but is porous when heated. The ends of the pipe 1'? are closed, as for example, by screw plugs 20, 20. When not in use, the plug 13, F igure 1, may be removed and the excess Water poured out.

The concentric chamber ed casing 21,

shown in Figures 13, 14 and 16, has an inner casing 22, and an outer-casing 23, the inner casing 22 is closed atone end by the perforated disc 24, but open at the other end, at 25, shown in Figures 4 and 14; the outer easing 23 being closed .at the end 26, Figure 14, and open at 27, Figures 13 and 16; the end of the outer cylinder of casing 23 is joined to the disc 28, Figures 13 and 16. The pipe 17 with its asbestos covering 19, Figure 12, is inserted through the opening 25 into the inner casing 22, Figure 4, and after assembly, is secured to the disc 24 by the screws 20, Figure 4. A lava or other refractory insulating plug 30, Figure 4, is secured to or is integral with a tube31, of alundum, or similar material,.upon which is wound a heating coil 32, and then embedded in'alundum cement 33, a partial View of which, in perspective, is shown in Figure 11, the ends of the heating wire including the circuit 34 and toggle switch 3 in handle 2, are connected to the. contact terminals 35, Figures 4 and 5, in the casing 4, and with which the plug 5 makes contact. During use of the steaming iron, the guard 8 Figures 2, 3 and 4, may be applied if desired, to provide a smooth working surface, the

guard having an opening 38, Figure 3, to

allow the steam to pass to the clothes. The guard 8 is attached to the body of the steamer casing 1 by the spring clips 39, which engage lugs 40, Figure 6.

- A flat iron element, 41, Figures 8, 9 and 10,. provided with spring clips 42, electric heating element 43, and contact terminals 44, which latter make contact with the lowerv sections 45 of the terminals 35, may be attached to the casing 1 upon the removal of the guard 8. The flat iron is provided with alongitudinal groove 46, Figure 8, and a multiplicity of vents or holes 47, Figures 8 and 10, which latter may be flared outwardly if desired, to permit steam to pass through and come in contact with the cloth when both steaming and pressing are being done at the same time. The electrically heated body of the iron serves to still further heat the steam passing through ducts or passages 47. If it is not desired to use the steamer, the switch 3 is opened, the current then passing to the flat iron only. A suit-- able switch and'connections 60 and 61 may also be provided to separately control the current to the flat iron. The'lower part of the casing 1 is provided with a tubular valve 50, Figure 4, consisting of a valve casing 51, and valve plug 52, the upper side of the casing is perforated with openings 53, which register with openings 54 in the plug 52, the lower side of the casing 51 having a slot 55 registering with the lower holes 54 in plug 52; the openings 53, holes 54, and the slot 55, constitute ducts for the passage of the steam; a handle 56 serves to adjust or close the valve as may be desired. The flat iron 41 may be permanently attached to the cylinder 1, if desired, instead of being detachable by the springs 42.,

To use the steaming iron, the reservoir 10 is filled with water through conduit 6, and the electric plug 5 is then connected, as shown in-Figure 1, which supplies electric current to the heater 32; when the heating unit is sufiiciently hot, the filtering envelope permits steam to pass, the steam entering the space surrounding the envelope 19, and passing through the opening 25 into the large space, then through the valve 50 and guard 8 to the cloth being steamed. If the flat iron 41 is attached, the steam will pass through the openings 47 to the material being pressed.

We claim:

1. In a portable steaming iron having a perforated working face, a reservoir to hold and supply water, a perforated outlet pipe to conduct water connected therewith, a porous filtering envelope covering said outlet pipe to receive and hold water therefrom, and means surrounding said filtering envelope to heat the same and convert water into steam, and ducts bein provided to discharge said steam through the working face of the steaming iron.

V 2. In a portable steaming iron having a perforated working face, a reservoir to hold and supply water, a perforated outlet pipe to conduct: water connected therewith, a porous filtering envelope covering said outlet pipe to receive and hold water therefrom and constructed to expose a distributed volume of said water to heat an electric heater surrounding said filtering envelope to heat the same and convert the water in said envelope into steam, means to protect said electric heater from steam, and a controlled outlet duct for ,the steam through the perforated working face.

3. In a portable steaming iron, a reservoir to hold and supply water aperforated outlet pipe to conduct water connected therewith, means to convert the water issuing from the outlet pipe into steam, lugs on said iron, a

perforated detachable smoothing element, clamps on said element to detachably engage said lugs, and an outlet duct to conduct the steam through the outer surface of said element.

4. In a portable steaming iron, a reservoir to hold and supply water, a perforated outlet pipe to conduct water connected therewith, an electric heater adjacent the reservoir and surrounding said outlet pipe to convert the Water issuing therefrom into steam'and to heat said reservoir, a smoothing element, clamps to hold said smoothing element on said iron, there being a steam discharge means through said. element, and a. duct to deliver the steam theretp.

5. In a portable steaming iron, a'reservoir iron base, electric connectors on said base to 10 to hold and supply Water, a perforated outconnect with said contacts, clamps on said let pipe to conduct water connected therebase to engage said lugs, and an outlet duct with, a removable electric heater adjacent to conduct the steam to the outer surface of 5 said outlet pipe to convert the water issuing said base.

therefrom-into steam, lugs on the casing of In testimony whereof we hereby afiix our 15 said steamin iron, electric circuits and consignatures. tacts to con uct electricity to said electric JOSEPH FR. TOPINKA. heater, an electrically heated detachable flat FRANK B. J EDLIGKA. 

